We Apologize But Your Return Processing Has Been Delayed Beyond The Normal Timeframe

(2024 tax season updates) Many tax filers are again seeing the message below on the IRS’ Where is My Refund (WMR) page or IRS2Go app days after their return is filed and accepted by the IRS, including after PATH restrictions have lifted.

Unfortunately this message just seems to create more frustration and confusion for many filers, because it does not tell them much.

In this article I will try and shed some light on what this general IRS message means for your tax return processing and potential refund payment timeline.

Refund Status - We apologize return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe
Delayed Tax Return and Refund processing

Feel free to leave a comment below with your individual circumstance or experience. As you can see you are not alone.

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What Does This Message Mean?

This processing message is essentially the default IRS notice that pops when your return is likely to take more than the standard 21 day IRS refund processing timeline.

Unfortunately for many tax filers it will mean a delay to their refund payment and a likely downward adjustment or offset, if the IRS cannot reconcile the amounts claimed versus what they have on their records.

Many filers have also reported seeing more details on their tax transcript following the message. This is generally shown via transaction codes 570 and 971. See more in the sections below.

Return Processing Delayed
Return Processing Delayed

The reference to Tax Topic 152 in the WMR/IRS2Go status box is a general or informational link to their standard refund processing timeline and potential causes of delays.

It is basically the IRS telling you to stay patient and hold on until they finish processing. It also lists several reasons why your return may be delayed, in order to set future expectations.

There is nothing you can do at this stage and often this message results in your status bars disappearing or your tax transcript showing “N/A” for filing activities in the current tax season.

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Options and next steps

You can try and use your IRS master file cycle code on your account transcript to get more insight, but this may be of limited value in understanding when your return will progress to the next stage of processing.

Once your tax return does progress (anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks) it will either go for further manual reviews, a more comprehensive IRS examination, or you will be notified that the refund was adjusted (TC570) or offset (TC898), before the final refund amount is paid (TC 846).

570 and 846 Tax Transcript Codes
570 and 846 Tax Transcript Codes

Note that in some cases this message may also be the result of pending identity verification checks (e.g. via ID.me) that that IRS is waiting for the filer to complete or respond to.

So ensure you check your mail for any official IRS letters or your IRS account, that require you to take action on an IRS request.

Tax Season Update – IRS refund delays

The latest tax season seems to going much better than last year, mainly due to increased IRS staffing and no new pandemic stimulus or expanded credits to administer.

But there are still delays and despite on time PATH processing, there is clear frustration and stress being expressed by many tax filers.

Per the IRS operations page for the current tax season, where the extended delays have been acknowledged, the IRS is saying it can take 60 to 120 days for them to deal with tax returns that require special handling. This is two to three times what it normally takes.

Other causes for extended delays are due to the manual processing of past year amended returns and tax returns which still need to be adjusted for incorrectly claimed refundable credit amounts related to the EITC, RRC or CTC. The backlog however is much smaller than a few months ago.

While tax returns are opened and processed in the order received by the IRS, they have also said that paper filed returns, filings with errors or missing information, or where is suspected identity theft or fraud, will also face longer than normal delays because of special/manual handling required to resolve issues.

The IRS will first try and fix these internally before contacting the tax filer, which is why you may be seeing the return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe message on WMR or IRS2Go.

If they cannot fix it they will contact you (via mail) and update your processing status and subsequent tax transaction codes accordingly.

Contacting the IRS for refund processing delays

Many have tried contact the IRS to see if they can find out what is taking so long with their refund.

But getting a live agent has been a challenge, and even when they reach someone they are basically told what I referenced above. You can see more feedback and examples in the comments forum below this article.

Until the IRS finishes processing these under review returns, a lot of their customer service agents will not know much more than you are being told.

They may however have more insight into the root cause (e.g tax credit reconciliation issue, identity related delays) but they will still need to wait till a formal determination is made and the next steps determined.

The good news, and I wanted to finish this article with some hope, is that select filers are seeing a faster than predicted turn around in their refund payments, even if they see the above message. So fingers crossed that the IRS is able to move faster as tax season progress.

See more on this topic discussed in this related video.

How Long Is it Taking For Refund Payments After This Message?

The good news is that many tax payers are reporting a change in status from “processing” to “refund sent” within four weeks, versus the 90 to 120 day official guidance.

Messages like the one below are appearing more frequently, showing that the IRS is now processing backlogs more efficiently. Good news for those stuck in this situation!

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331 thoughts on “We Apologize But Your Return Processing Has Been Delayed Beyond The Normal Timeframe”

  1. The IRS backlog has negative financial consequences for seniors on Medicare. Our 2020 return still has not been processed. As a result social security based our 2022 Medicare premium on 2019 return which was 2 times our income in 2020.
    We were charged a premium on our premium!! Fortunately we sent a copy of our 2020 return to social security and they fixed our Medicare premium.
    This IRS backlog also has held up the stimulus money we were qualified to receive.

    Reply
  2. Why is everyone so impatient? I’m still waiting on my 2020 tax refund…; I’ve received my 2021 because I filed early… But the IRS messed up something and I’m still waiting on my 2020 refund filed in may last year

    Reply
  3. Our check was late and $1200 short from what turbo tax said it would be. We were counting on that money for bills. Now we are just in same spot behind. Thanks IRS.

    Reply
  4. I still haven’t received my 2019 taxes. I field a congressional and the irs said I did file a tax return. Mind you My taxes were mailed. I have the confirmation that someone at the IRS signed for my taxes. I decided to resubmit my 2019 taxes along with my 2021. It’s been about 4 weeks now and still nothing. They are a bunch of criminals. I want my damn money.

    Reply
  5. And cause Turbo tax failed to figure out why I couldn’t electronically file last year, I continue to wait for my refund for 2020; it’s been 5 months.

    Reply
  6. Good Afternoon my name is JACQUELYN RANDLE and I can’t remember that I filed back in 2012 because I had a Major Stroke, can you let me know if I filed my Taxes? I would be so grateful ✨

    Reply
  7. And yet there are no delays in them sending letters out and setting a deadline when you owe them money! And if it isn’t paid on time then they assess a penalty. Typical Gubamint operation…

    Reply
    • I’m still waiting on my 2019 tax return. I moved and have sent four change of address letters back and tax guy even called them 6 months ago and they said it was fixed. Still no 2019 check.

      Reply
  8. I was granted a federal refund for 2021 but I didn’t understand what the lady at H&R block was saying and asked if I got the $1500.00 stimulus check and I said no not knowing it was from March of 2021 had a refund but now she told me that I have to pay $710.00

    Reply
  9. I submitted my 2020 taxes on April 2021 and have yet to receive my refunds from last year. I did my taxes this year and I’m receiving a notification that the IRS did not receive them. I’m concerned the IRS is scamming tax payers and there’s not a single attorney that is willing to attempt to collect. If I owed money to the IRS they would issue additionally penalties for nonpayment and send me to collections. Can anyone be courageous enough to file a class action against the IRS for keeping our refunds. This is totally unacceptable!!

    Reply
  10. My taxes last February 2021 they say that they don’t have any information at all concerning my tax refund. So they need to get that straight and I need it and the other one I filed last month so who knows when that’s going to come unless both of them will be coming at the same time. And it’s impossible for me to talk to an agent at all. I am trying to be patient but I am so irritated because it’s already over a year for the first one.

    Reply
    • The IRS received mine and my Mothers 2020 tax return on May 16, 2021. And I or my Mom has not received our refund. And the IRS system to check on refunds says that they have no record of our tax return. So I contacted my Congress Representative to check to see why we have not received our refund.

      Reply
  11. I am on the same thing I filed on January 24th and was accepted on the 30th
    So just waiting it’s been on there for a month now hope it will change soon

    Reply
    • My refund took almost 6 weeks. I downloaded the IRS app and I’ve found it was very accurate. I received a we’ve received your refund to we are processing your return to the refund will be deposited into your account. I hope this helps

      Reply
  12. Texas here filed on the Feb 5th after a few days I lost the bars and got the dreaded message. Thanks for this article and ALL the comments. At least I know I’m not alone lol

    Reply
  13. Filed on 2/3 but still waiting as patient as any human can be it’s getting irritating right now. It’s my money and I need it now!!! Lol

    Reply
  14. I filed 2/20 22 and I had unemployment plus income and child tax credit, dependents and earned income , new baby and recieved stimulus and also had to request stimulus for the baby and I can’t believe that I got my refund deposited 3/2/22. After reading all the comments I’m feeling VERY GRATEFUL!!

    Reply
    • We have the same situation but I filed mine January 26, still have not gotten anything. I’ve bee on the phone at exactly 7:00am everyday this week so far and my call just gets dropped when they transfer me. My husband is out on disability right now so we REALLY need that refund! I’m running out of patience!

      Reply
    • Lucky you I did all that you did minus a new baby and I filed January 31st and it was excepted hours later, but it has said it’s delayed for a month now and I still haven’t received it

      Reply
  15. I filed my 2020 taxes on February 12, 2021 and am still waiting for my refund. Filed my 2021 taxes on February 16, 2022. We will see if I get this refund back.

    Reply
  16. I got this message a couple weeks ago. Finally called IRS yesterday to only be told they need more information and is he mailing a letter to me. He wouldn’t say what information. All he would say is I should receive the letter in 14 days and to follow the instructions on the letter.

    Reply
  17. Everyone it’s hard I know I just got my 2020 taxes after filing them last February. I figured this year I probably won’t get them til next year during tax season, so I’m not even looking forward to seeing them no time soon. By the way I need them desperately with paying tuition and all.

    Reply
  18. My wife and I filed Feb. 18th. “Where’s My Refund” went from accepted after a few hours from filing to no change. This week it started saying still be processed-Tax topic 152.

    Reply
    • I filed mine Jan. 31st and it got accepted the same day but the “Where’s my refund” says mine is still being processed as well.

      Reply
  19. I was accepted on the 3rd and recieved this message a few days before the 21st day. Then I recieved a letter in the mail giving me a Total 2021 Federal Economic Payment. 3 weeks after already filing my taxes! It’s been a nightmare trying to talk to a live agent. I dont know if my taxes are being worked on or put on backlog.
    I need this money so bad and I don’t know what else to do, keep getting defeated seeing this message everyday.

    Reply
    • Yes very screwed situation, no updates or nothing just sad…backlogged or not this should have been handle so differently they get theirs off the top with no problems n we should be entitled to the same, if not a given explanation is needed and would be appreciated just hang in there and hold on

      Reply
    • I been waiting to i filled in February 8 2022 mindset process then I got another email saying that it’s on delay I’m frustrated homeless and trying to get a place I need my money too

      Reply
  20. I am still waiting for my 2020 tax return, When I go to Where’s my refund? All it would say is its still processing.. until a couple days ago, Now It can’t find any files for my return? I talked to my H&R Representative and from their computers it says it’s still processing. I was afraid to file my taxes this year.. I understand staff shortages from the pandemic but there are millions who depend on those tax returns for things in their everyday lives.

    Reply
  21. I filed my taxes on Feb 12 was accepted the same day but it is giving me a message of it is still being processed and a refund date will be given when one is available. Tax topic 152. It doesn’t have a delay just that message. Is this the same thing as the delay message.

    Reply
  22. I processed and wS accepted in January. I received a letter about the message. I had to verify who I was with them….facial recognition, etc…they said I had been verified and now may have to wait up to 9 additional weeks for my refund. I don’t have any child credits or anything just a regular refund

    Reply
  23. My husband still hasn’t received
    his taxes 2020 taxes and now this year to SMH stating its delayed

    Reply
    • My fiancé as well. He has not received his 2020 or his 2021 and every time we call all the irs numbers it says sorry due to high call volume call back on next business day. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! They also modified my return from 14k to 5k . I had twins in 2021 and they took away all my credits not giving me anything.

      Reply
  24. Filed TurboTax 2/ 3 expected irs 2/3
    Weeks all mine says is still being processed no codes no bars
    Check back WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT HASNT MOVED NOTHING????

    Reply
    • I filed 2/6 to my knowledge and still haven’t seen anything I claimed childcare and the stimulus payments and I received unemployment so I’m not sure because i had a run around last year with four jobs as well that’s the reason of my delay. i called twice and spoke with a live agent and she said I’ll receive it on the 1st or 2nd I hope mine is coming soon I’m on my last nickel and dime.

      Reply
  25. I filed 2/4 with EITC claimed through Turbo and was accepted that same day. Turbo says I should of received my return 2/25. Online says 3/1. Its now 3/2 and I have no federal return yet but received my illinois state. The ‘wheres my refund” has shown the 152 message. its definitely a bummer for sure.

    Reply
  26. We can’t get our taxes when we are supposed to but our government. Will send millions to another country. Something is not right

    Reply
  27. I to had files on Feb 3 and they got accepted the same day I have claimed the ctc and the rbc but I too keep getting the same message from the irs topic 152 about my refund

    Reply
    • I had filed our taxes January 28 and have yet to see any progress in my federal refund we did get our state taxes back but the state keeps posting the same message that was in the article above

      Reply
      • HI, I FILED MINE JANUARY 28, also got accepted same day hour later. And I received my state tax(2/9/22) but still waiting on my Federal. I received that same 152 message. I’m still waiting

        Reply
        • Me Too!!! I Filed 1/28 and got my state refund 2/2. Today is 3/2 and I’m so waiting with message 152 “delay”… Trust me… I’m Really Trying To Be Patient…

        • I also am in the same exact situation as u stated above dates & all however i received a letter from franchise tax board saying bc of all the recent fraud cases.my taxes were randomly selected for identity confirmation review. That i needed to submit copy of w2, last paycheck stub, and copy of front & back of my ID/CDL card. So i just did this last night and sent by fax(was an option to send by mail also, but i didnt want it to get lost) Letter says i should have to wait 8weeks b4 inquiry if i havent recieved. WTH??
          Well i hope this helps..

        • I too filed Feb 3rd got accepted then too processing then went too still processing and now it’s saying Apologize for delay and 152 code Jesus I need my money frfr and tried call them still can’t get thur

  28. I filed my taxes at the beginning of February, my tax preparers give me an option to get an advance refund for part of my refund. I got the advance refund, then the IRS sent the rest of my refund out on the 24th of February and I still don’t have it! I have no idea what to do, I am losing my mind! Nobody is willing to help me at this point neither are my Banks the IRS or even my tax preparers! I feel hopeless and alone. Thanks government I really needed help but you bailed on me.

    Reply
    • So is the issue that your actual refund was lower than your advance refund? So you didn’t get anything more from your filer. Not clear what your issue since you got refund. If it was offset or lower, check your transcript or wait for your official IRS notice and adjustments to see if you can appeal. Finally you can also call the Taxpayer advocate service.

      Reply
      • I got less than 800 for my advance and am still missing over 1000. The people who prepared my taxes can’t help me because they can’t find my info now. The place I got the advance from says “nothing’s come in” and my brick and mortar Bank says the exact same thing. The IRS won’t even answer my calls because they are quote too busy dealing with other people’s issues for the same thing. I’m between a rock and a hard place. I am in financial trouble right now and was really banking on this money to help.

        Reply
    • Ahh ma’an! I’m sorry to hear that… I thought waiting from 1/28 was bad… you’re in a “limbo” of some sort…

      Reply
    • If the IRS did send out the refund it would go to the bank who gave you the advance. This is so they can get their money back along with any fees that you might owe them or owe your preparation company. The bank then sends you the remaining refund. They are supposed to send it to where you indicated like direct deposit. But if you got a card like H&R Block’s Emerald card if might be sent to the card. If you haven’t checked there you yet then check that out now. Hope this helps you and others who did the advance thing.

      Reply
  29. I filed mine through h&r block on February 7 got accepted for both and I got a letter from the iIRS saying my refund would be delayed for 60 day don’t no why when you a professional taxsperson do it I paided extra too for them to take care of

    Reply
    • Yeah…unfortunately a professional or “premium” option won’t help with internal IRS processing. The date you filed with (likely related to CTC or RRC) didn’t match what the IRS has so return getting sent for further reviews. You’ll just need to wait for the IRS to respond.

      Reply
    • I too did my taxes through H&R Block on January 28 we received our state refund but have yet to see our federal refund and it just shows the same message as the article above

      Reply
      • We did ours Jan 28 also have the message from above we didn’t even get the state yet this is crazy

        Reply
    • So did I and I still have not got mine and this is crazy I had to get my own stuff ready and send it all in myself

      Reply
  30. I filed on Jan. 24 when it’s first started accepting. Got message both was accepted the same day. Then it said from my direct deposit site I would get it on the 17th of Feb. Needless to say I check everyday and about 1 week ago I saw the message tc 152. Delayed. But I didn’t get a message or letter from IRS. I also saw something saying that it’s is going to start giving out refunds to people that have child tax credit or earned income credit. So I was excited for a min. Still got delayed message and when I looked it up. IRS says it could be an additional 10 to 14 days when delayed.

    Something has to update soon cause it is crazy to be delayed for so long. Are y’all hiring lol.

    Reply
    • I was thinking the same!!, “HIRE ME!!!” I So Desperately want to work for them… so many people are depending on this pay out… so sad… I wish I could Help!

      Reply
    • I tried calling that number and all I could get was prompts so I wasn’t able to get a live agent on the phone yet!!!

      Reply
  31. Hmm we filed our taxes last year on time and still haven’t received our federal return from 2020!!!! If we owed them we’d be fined!! We received our state return about 5 months after filing in March and never got our federal !!! So frustrated! When we check the status it says there is no information available at this time!!

    Reply
  32. damn right they take your house, car, and anything they could to get there money. totally no cool. we just have to be patient with them.

    Reply
  33. I filed January 30th, and git accepted the same day hours later….. Mines also went from saying processing to having no bars and saying that it was delayed. I checked about a week later after only waiting a week of WMR saying it was delayed to now me reviewing my transcript and it showed a refund date for today March 2nd. I now have my refund, if your a early filer and your return is accurate I’m sure it’s coming very soon. Have lots of faith and be patient even though it’s hard not to. I hope everyone receives their refund soon.

    Reply
  34. I filed Jan 17 and got a letter to verify my identity so I did Feb 17 should I receive my refund anytime soon?

    Reply
  35. Mine said this at first, now it says “take action” with a phone number, reference number, and extension but calling is redundant bc it always says overwhelmed with calls and to call back using a different extension which leads to exactly the same dead end…. no explanation of what action either

    Reply
  36. I’m so upset i filed on the 1st of February both of my returns were accepted then 2 weeks later i find that my return is being delayed and then my return has been decreased, they took the 3rd stimulus check back from my taxes which is stupid because i didn’t get the 1st or 2nd stimulus check and I’ve been calling the irs for the past weeks now and keeps getting the same bs this is ridiculous and it needs to get resolved because i don’t understand why they would give out money to help people just to take it back from them!!!

    Reply
  37. I filed early. 1/24 with turbo tax. I paid extra to get the benefits of help if I needed it because I’ve never used it and I don’t know how to do taxes. I had a baby in May 2021.
    Also I’m not working now because I stay at home with my son. What happened for me is yesterday I still got the 152 message. I called the IRS left a message.
    I was very worried at this point because I talked to turbo tax three weeks ago and said I think I did something wrong because it walked me through everything and towards the end it popped up with a question about a 2800.00 payment asking if I received that during a specific time frame. Obviously I said no. I’d remember if I received that much because I’m a stay at home mom now. I used the dates it questioned me and looked through my bank statements there was nothing. Only the one economic payment of 1400 in March.
    The gentleman at the IRS called me back. I told him all of this and he said they froze the account due to fraud.
    After this I will no longer use turbo tax.
    I’m sure this may be funny for some, but it wasn’t for me. I’m going through so much right now with my sons formula recall, and this just caused more anxiety because id never purposely claim money that wasn’t mine especially from the IRS.
    He also informed me I owe the federal money from a past school loan. So they are going to take that because he didn’t think they did the student loan forgiveness any longer.
    Lol what.
    So this is my experience. Not a pretty one.

    Reply
    • If any students loan money is owed, the money will be sent directly to you. Remember, student loan repayments or still in hold until may

      Reply
    • So basically the $2800 that it asked if u received, was actually the $1400 u said u just received plus ur sons $1400 that u did not receive. U could’ve asked a live representative while doing ur taxes. U needed to put that u recieved ur $1400 part but not the other. It just automatically assumes everyone got the full amount. Mine did the same thing for my child that was born in July 2021 but i took her part off & just put the remaining. & since we only got 1 stimulus last year, it wasnt difficult for me to figure out what to do. U will have to verify ur identity before they will release ur funds. Weve used turbotax for years & theyve always been very helpful for us. There are a tonnn of articles that have been available for 3 months now about how anyone who had a child in 2021 is eligible for $5000 credit on their taxes – $3600 CTC & $1400 stimulus

      Reply
  38. I filed Jan 24 got accepted on the 25 my refund say delayed for the longest nothing has changed very frustrating

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  39. I filed on Feb. 7th. Kept getting still being processed message. Now for past week I get the delayed processing message. I’m unable to work due to COPD and was counting on money to pay bills.

    Reply
  40. I went through the same process last year and IRS readjusted my income tax and took $1,100 for me because he said that information on my income tax did not match telling me that the social security number of my son was not correct or I did not have a child and further assuming that allow marriage status was not single when all along I am a single parent with a child under 17 years old at that time and they never gave me back the money so this year I did TurboTax this time they told me everything was correct and I had to pay money to get my taxes done and now I’m back waiting I hope they do not take any more of my income tax like they did last year after trouble tax told me everything was correct

    Reply
  41. I got the same message I filed on January 28 got accepted the same day. I had one bar then I get this message and still got it. Got a letter in the mail saying it was going to take longer. But still no date or nothing. This a headache

    Reply
  42. I filed January 28th 2022 still nothing it’s been over 30 days now hope to hear something soon with my tax refund it said I get it on February 20 the 2022 I got nothing yet I tried to calln IRS can’t get anybody on phone but just reading it says a delay but I don’t know how long

    Reply

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